Ummm.... you know you guys can cheat on it...... Right?
Some Windows versions of Minesweeper have a cheat mode that uses the top-left pixel of the display to signal the presence or absence of a mine under the cursor. Start Minesweeper normally. When it has loaded, type "xyzzy <ENTER> <SHIFT>". After doing this, the screen's top-left pixel will be white when the mouse pointer is on a square without a mine, and black when the pointer is on a square with a mine. This code works in Microsoft Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups 3.11, Windows NT 3.51, Windows 2000 and Windows XP. In Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows NT 4.0, the pixel is only visible if the standard Explorer desktop is not running. In Windows XP, it is necessary to click at least one square before the pixel accurately reports mine placement.
In earlier Windows versions, the file "winmine.ini" contains the high score table data. Editing this file changes the high score table accordingly, and can be used to falsify "high scores".
In more recent Windows versions of Minesweeper, the high scores list has been moved into the registry (HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\winmine). One can forge "high scores" by using a registry editor to access the highscore name and time files and change the data in them.
A cheat code can be used to stop the timer. After the timer has started hold down both the right and left button on the cursor and press escape (ESC). This does not work on Windows XP. (In the Windows 2000 version, pressing the ESC key alone after the game has started will stop the timer.)
The timer may also be stopped by clicking and holding the smiley face at the top of the minefield. Note that in order for this to work without simply causing a new game to start, the player must move the pointer off of the face before releasing the mouse button.
Sorry to ruin the fun........